| W4UDX |
Rating:     |
2016-05-08 | |
| Still holds its own.... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Bought an Omni D original series by accident using my eBay app on my cell phone. I paid less than $200 for the radio and it included a really nice repainted Turner +2 desk mic. I was surprised at how nice the receiver sounded even though it doesn't have any fancy DSP features or even IF shift! The guys I chat with on 75 meters said the transmit sounded as good or better than my Icom 746 and I use a desk mic and EQ with it. Looks like I got a great deal but I am not into boatanchors anymore even the solid state ones so I will probably sell it for someone else to enjoy. Just a tip: don't play with your eBay app on your cell while talking to your wife. :-)
----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by W4UDX on 2002-11-28
I recently aquired a Ten-Tec Omni-D series B through a trade. Later I found the external VFO for a steal on eBay. Compare to the Yaesu FT-817 portable radio that I was using, this gear is huge. I call it my solid-state boatanchor station. Right now, the Omni and Triton transceivers are going for cheap prices, even on eBay. The Omni is probably one of the nicer radios I have owned, and the one I have is loaded with filters. The noise blanker is missing, but after talking with a service tech at Ten-Tec, I decided not to even try to find one. He said they just don't work. That's too bad, since I have an S-5 power line buzz on 10 and 15 meters that other radios that I have owned could wipe out.
Here's a few things that I don't care for about the Omni, and I suspect that the Tritons suffer the same problems:
VFO tuning speed - I'm sorry, but 18 KHz per revolution is just too darn fast.
AGC - If you own one, you know what I am talking about here. It's too slow, not adjustable, and the strong signal pops get old after awhile.
Metering - SWR meter is nice, but really, was it just too much trouble to include an RF out position? This is the only radio I've owned that didn't have an RF out meter scale.
Resonate - I'm sure having a preselector on the front end of the receiver helps performance, but the control is touchy and requires twiddling. Maybe mine is just worn out...
Front Panel ALC - This to me is a wasted control. It would have been better to put a meter selector switch or AGC speed control here.
The great things are dual VFO receive when using the external VFO, famous Ten-Tec QSK, a very effective Notch (even though it's audio), and almost tube-sounding receive audio. If you have a B or C series with all the filters, you know how effective they are in slicing out QRM. And that RF gain control that doesn't reverse-peg the S-meter is too nice!
I plan on keeping mine. I do plan on some mods, though. First I am going to move the ALC control to either inside or the back panel. Then I am going to use it's spot to wire up an AGC speed control. Next I will use the noise blanker switch to install Ten-Tec's intergating squelch kit, since I can't find a good noise blanker kit. Then I am going to add a switch for FWD/REF meter so I can see if the rig is putting out power. An ALC light just doesn't cut it. There's not much I can do about the VFO speed. All in all though, I am happy with the radio's performance. |
|
| N6BIZ |
Rating:      |
2015-08-04 | |
| LOVE IT MORE |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
LOVE MY OMNI D EVEN MORE SINCE I JUST PUT IN THE 500HZ CW FILTER...AT A PRICE I WANTED TO PAY...
----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N6BIZ on 2015-06-02
IM STILL LAUGHING ...JUST BOUGHT ON EBAY FOR $107.50... SELLER SAID IT DID NOT WORK... WELL IT DOES !!! MY THIRD TT HAVE A TRITON4 DIGITAL AND A OMNI 5 LOADED WITH INRADS ... THE RX AUDIO SOUNDS LIKE MY HQ170AC -PERFECT ... I HAVE RECEIVED TX AUDIO REPORTS OF CRYSTAL CLEAR ... AND OF COURSE THE QSK IS SILENT AND JUST A PLEASURE TO USE ON CW...MY NEXT CATCH IS GOING TO BE A ORION...AND LET ME ADD ALL THE TT ARE SO EASY TO USE ... |
|
| KD8GTP |
Rating:      |
2014-10-05 | |
| I luv mine |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I bought mine used 1yr ago, $300 with desk mic/original power supply. I had to send it to TT for a PTO rebuild, $290. So I have $600 in this radio. I also have the Yaesu FT897d. I prefer the TT, here's why. BIG LCD frequency display, no problem seeing this one. A real meter, analog, just something about watching that needle swing rather than a bar graph. BIG knobs, no menus. Please keep in mind I am a 'no code appliance operator', I have no use for roof filters, DSP,or band scopes. Hell, I don't even know what those things do :) This radio is SIMPLE ! Turn it on and talk to fellers. Open up the top and look inside. Even I can tell if something blew, all modular boards plug into each other and use components you can actually replace. Finally, this is a big radio, something with substance, looks like you have a real radio, not some shoe box size thing on your desk. Bottom line- if you can score one, do it! Great radidio !! |
|
| N4OI |
Rating:      |
2014-07-17 | |
| My Go-To CW Rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Why do I always find myself going to my OMNI-D / A for CW? My K3/P3 has incredible filtering, but the OMNI's receiver, sidetone and QSK are just more comfortable... I really cannot put my finger on why that is!
Given the Ebay pricing these days, the OMNI-D / A is a good candidate for the best value on the used market today. And the styling is about the best in TenTec's history.
73 |
|
| NX1F |
Rating:      |
2013-02-09 | |
| Fabulous Rig |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Just bought a pristine example with rebuilt PTO and outboard VFO also with rebuilt PTO. The receiver is as quiet as a church mouse. The QSK is fine. The sidetone is very pleasant. This is a CW OPs dream. It has that funky receiver preselector control to peak the signal for each band. I like it because it's something else I can control. We all have different operating styles. Some of us like the newest of everything, with 7 separate VFOs, digital maps showing every signal, and the Yankees/Red Sox game. These rigs have hot plates for warming your coffee, and a remote starter button for your Lexus..........no thanks. I like a simple, basic rig with CW filters. Send the signal, listen to the response. The Omni D does this beautifully. Controls are very intuitive, and I find that the noise blanker DOES work. You can't go wrong with this radio, unless you want a rig that will also toast your English muffins.
Very 73,
Joe / NX1F |
|
| N3GGT |
Rating:      |
2010-11-08 | |
| Great radio ! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| My first experience with this radio was field day 1989. It was the 40m SSB rig and I was amazed how quiet the reciever was. I laughed at the banana mic but found it was very comfortable. I bought one at a hamfest for a whopping $250. I rebuilt the PTO myself. For a CW rig, its QSK defies explanation... you will never find a rig that can beat it ! The CW filter is quite narrow and I love it. Something wrong with the bandswitch arraingment and 40m doesn't work for me.... wouldn't you know it... its my favorite band. NOV SS CW of 2010 I fired it up on 80m and forgot what fun it was to operate. I do miss working 40m cw so I'll have to fix it. A simple radio to work on. I love this radio and will never part with it. If you get a chance... get one. You'll be very happy with it. |
|
| N7INO |
Rating:      |
2009-07-13 | |
| GREAT |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have the D model since it was new. Used it for years and I thought I up graded to newer rig.I was wrong, sent my D back to Ten Tec Had it serviced and aliend, workd very well. I then sent my Triton back as a back up rig, which I also bought new.Works very well also.What can be wrong with a radio built with knobs on Dolly Parton Parkway> |
|
| W8ZNX |
Rating:      |
2008-10-31 | |
| good tool |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
have owned a Omni D series B xceiver
for about 5 years
nothing special about it
no bells
no whistles
no memorys
no keyer
no inboard tuner
no general coverage receive
simply
one hell of a great radio
easy to use
easy to fix
when most other rigs of its age
are in the landfill
Omni A/D series A/B/C radios
will still be on the air
its one of the best cw rigs
ive ever owned
ive owned lots of radios
dit dit
mac |
|
| VE1CJS |
Rating:      |
2008-08-14 | |
| Great rig |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had this Omni C for about two years and just recently the display started to jump around so after e-mailing Ten Tec and not receiving any reply I sent it back for repair, that took about two weeks, not bad for an old rig such as this.
it cost me $216.00 wow, they sent it back packaged like fine china and by UPS who when it arrived at my door demanded an extra $61.84 for administration charges or no rig, this I paid, so after taking the rig out of the wrapping I noticed the top cover had a big ding in it that was not there when it was sent,this was noted and conveyed to Ten Tec via e-mail,still no reply, I turned it on and checked everything was working and sure enough it was and the output was a wopping 100 watts on all freq, holy smoke, never did that before.
I then waited for the local HF nets to come on the air so I could test the transmit side out and had quite a chore finding anyone that was around and the qrm was not the best, after fooling with the frequency a bit I found that the rig was out by some 800 hertz on the display, so I e-mailed Ten Tec again and am waiting for a reply back re this issue, the rig does work very good dispite having to compensate with the display and I am otherwise pleased with the fact that the factory still services a radio that is over 20 years old so I think that with my gripes about small issues I wish that I had this rig when it was new because it is such a nice radio. |
|
| FORMER_K0PD |
Rating:      |
2008-07-25 | |
| I really enjoy using my Omni C |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I too bought my Omni C off of Ebay and it arrived just as described and works just Fine. Years back in my early days of Ham Radio i had a Omni D and at the time felt it was a great radio. I eventually sold it and like so many of us that enjoy this Hobby i've tried and owned just about every radio out there that has come out.I now operate a Yaesu FT-950 as my main station. The 950 works really great and i had been wanting to play with a Omni D/C again when i saw this one on e bay along with the 255 pwr supply and 670 electronic keyer.A ham was selling it for a friends widow and told me after i bought it if there was a problem he would gladly accept it back.Well i'll sum this up by saying not only did he not get it back but i find my self using it as much as my 950 and must say in my humble opinion that this radio with the filters and notch will still hold it's own against the more modern radios and i love the Ten Tec sound. So if your new to ham and after your first Radio and get a chance to buy a Omni D/C at a fair price do it and enjoy a real still made in America Radio. I might ad the C model will usually have all the warc bands where as the D will have only a couple of the warc bands as the later C model could be bought with or with out the warc bands but either way operation wise there exact radios.... |
|